Re: [Amc-list] GRRR 196 HEADGASKET AGAIN....

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Sounds like it blew, but could be something else. Run a compression check first. If two cylinders side by side read a bit low and about the same, it's blown between them. 

The first thing I'd do before replacing a head gasket is have the head checked for trueness. If it's not perfectly flat the head gasket won't last long. I'd say a few thousand miles at best, which means I suspect it was slightly warped when you put it back on. The bolts shouldn't need retorquing after just a few thousand miles, but note that I said "EVERY OTHER YEAR or 12-14K miles". The first 196 OHV I bought had a blown head gasket. I replaced it and drove it a few weeks before it blew again. Head had to be shaved 0.020" to be flat -- had it checked before replacing the second time, and have ALL heads checked if run hot or have an unknown history since then! 

The bolts aren't really special. They're just grade 8 bolts of the correct size and length. 

----------------
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:05:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: d stohler <das24rules@xxxxxxxxx>

well, i think i blew another head gasket tonight. i
now live in eastern oregon. 45 miles from town. i went
to visit my parents this afternoon. took casper (62
classic) for a drive. 45 miles further from town also.
so they live 90 miles from town. was headed home at
about 10:45 tonight, and got about 3 1/2 miles from
their house, and what do you know, i got steam blowing
from under the hood, and tem gauge says 225.(mech
water and oil gauges added for cheap insurance) water
was BOILING hard. someone stopped, gave me a ride back
in to town. (if you want to call it a town, a small
motel, c-store, my parents own both, and only about 50
people) got a couple gallons of water, drove it back
in to town, and temp gauge shot back up by the time i
was back in town from about 115 up to 200. it did that
same thing last time i blew the head gasket. this one
has been less than a  year, and only about 4000 miles.
last time, temp got up to 275 (summertime) and didnt
appear to damage the head or block. tossed a new
gasket on and it was fine. i think i did it again.
does anyone know of a source for new head bolts?? i
wonder if that has a lot to do with this "retorque"
deal with them? it SHOULDNT need retorqued yet should
it? i think frank says 2 years or 10,000? also, the
stupid throttle decided to stick on the way back in to
town. thats not fun when that happens. so, i guess i
have to get another gasket ordered. maybe i should see
if i can get a discount for ordering in BULK???
getting irritated with this issue. cant wait till my
304 is built. 

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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